(MISA/IFEX) – The privately owned “Post” newspaper reported in its 12 May 1998 edition that its editor-in-chief, Fred M’membe, has brought a lawsuit against Francis Ndhlovu, the Inspector General of the Zambian police, for illegal phone tapping. According to the newspaper, M’membe wants the courts to declare that Ndhlovu should be prosecuted for his actions. […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The privately owned “Post” newspaper reported in its 12 May
1998 edition that its editor-in-chief, Fred M’membe, has brought a lawsuit
against Francis Ndhlovu, the Inspector General of the Zambian police, for
illegal phone tapping.
According to the newspaper, M’membe wants the courts to declare that Ndhlovu
should be prosecuted for his actions. He also wants an injunction to be
issued restraining Ndhlovu from doing any other acts amounting to an
infringement of his rights, or those of any citizen.
The phone tapping happened in 1996, at the height of a bombing campaign by
an obscure terrorist group called the “Black Mamba.” Ndhlovu admitted during
the 1996 trial of suspects brought to court by the government, that he had
ordered the newspaper’s phones to be tapped. M’membe contends that the
action was contrary to the Telecommunications Act and the constitution, and
he is seeking ordinary and exemplary damages for the infringement.
